Zen CD: A Retrospective
What have the ninja’s at Ninjatune been upto for the past decade or so? Since their conception by Jonathan More and Matt black (most know these guys as Coldcut) back in the early 1990’s, there has been a huge cult following and a reputation for finding some of most amazing talent available on the planet. There is good reason for this. Ninjatune has helped pioneer Breaks, Lounge, Downtbeat and even HipHop as we know today.
Having assimilated some of the highest quality artists yet also having extreme flexibly in styles and tastes to span any music lovers ears. Dj Food helped develop some of the most notorious breakbeats, dub, jazz, and hip hop foundations, where jazz infused artists such as The Herbaliser, twisted sounds of Funki Porcini and even the turntableist himself, Kid Koala. Not only did they house some great talent, they also brought some most legendary venues in London.
If only I could have been there to see it, but imagine a night full of the Ninja’s spinning and jamming at the same place and the same time. You can almost start to get a feeling for this while listening to these CD’s. Not only do these artists pump out great sounds, they also sound amazing mashed all together track after track.
Opening up with “Dark Lady” from Dj Food and gracefully moving into some Coldcuts “Atom Moog”, Amon Tobin, Bonobo, Mr. Scruff, Wagon Christ, Kid Koala, Luke Vibert, Hexstatic, Cinematic Orchestra and topping off with Funki Porcini. And to think, this is only on the first of the dual re-mastered cd set.
Some of my favorite tracks (just glance at the track listing, you’ll understand) of all time are on compilation including the legendary “Autumn Leaves” by Coldcut. There is simply so much to hear on these cd’s (about 158 minutes worth), to sum it up all up or emphasize anything in particular. Granted you’ll hear some other lengendary tracks such as: 9 Lazy 9 – Black Jesus, The Herbaliser – The Blend, and even some maracas from Up Bustle and Out.
I simply can’t say anything more about this compilation, beyond if you haven’t heard some of theses tracks, trust me they are legendary. Also if you are a fan of Ninjatune, then there is no question that you should most likely pick this up, along with the other releases coming out on February 9th: Zen RMX (reviewed here) and the double length Zen TV DVD.
Snag it, pre order it, do whatever need be to get this stuff. Quality to be found within.
Disc 1:
DJ Food – Dark Lady
Coldcut – Atomic Moog
Amon Tobin – Get Your Snack On
Bonobo – Pick Up
Mr Scruff – Get A Move On
Mr Scruff – Sweetsmoke
Wagon Christ – Bend Over
Kid Koala – Skanky Panky
Luke Vibert – Get Your Head Down
Amon Tobin – Sordid
DJ Food – Spiral
Hexstatic – Auto
Coldcut – Timber
Amon Tobin – Easy Muffin
Coldcut – Autumn Leaves
Cinematic Orchestra – All That You Give
Funki Porcini – Long Road Edit
Disc 2:
Coldcut – More Beats & Pieces
DJ Vadim – Terrorist
Kid Koala – Fender Bender
DJ Vadim – Your Revolution
The Herbaliser – Mr Chombee Has The Flaw
Mr Scruff – Shrimp
The Herbaliser – The Blend
9 Lazy 9 – Black Jesus
Up Bustle & Out – Aqui No Ma
Cinematic Orchestra – Channel 1 Suite
Amon Tobin – Deo
Cinematic Orchestra – All Things To All Men
Jaga Jazzist – Lithuania
Funki Porcini – Purrfect Edit
The Herbaliser – Something Wicked
- Zen CD: A Retrospective
- by David Gluzman
- Published on February 1st, 2004
- Artist:
- Various Artists
- Album:
- Zen CD: A Retrospective
- Label:
- Ninjatune
- Rating:
- 9.5 / 10
More from David Gluzman:
-
Interview: Fink
Fink has been touring around the world playing some of the most prestigious venues and regularly selling out where ever he goes. Having also toured with Zero 7 only after their fourth ever booked gig!! To add to Fink’s ever growing fame, he has recently had a track showcased as the soundtrack to a new MasterCard commercial.
-
R4NT Radio September 2008
R4NT 10th Anniversary Edition featuring: Pop Levi, Replife, Foreign Beggars, Grouch, Eyereel Allstars, Blakkat, Mr.Scruff, Marcel and Kirsty Hawkshaw!
-
Xperience: Drum & Bass
I was really excited to sit down and listen to this album, over and over again. This album compiled by Dj Clever is the definition of great Drum and Bass. Hard hitting bass lines, wavering vocals, and mix that together with some sick mixing skills and you have something that’s sure to please.
The “Xperience” line … -
Christian Prommer’s Drumlesson
I originally sat down on the couch to read the latest issue of WIRED magazine and decided to plop in some new music.. While dodging the overwhelming amount of ads presented to me in the magazine I was suddenly completely unable to stay focused on what I was looking at and was completely absorbed by the music being played.
-
Lamb – Between Darkness and Wonder
The mid 1990’s introduced me to a new style of music that has forever changed the way I listen to music. I remember when I first heard Massive Attack and the dark sounds of Tricky I had immediately found a new direction to take my CD collection. Morcheeba also had a huge amount of influence …
-
A Fine Cheese
She had just turned 18 and was out ripping it up at the club, but then it dawned on me that she was born in 1985! Heck, I remember what I was doing in 1985, and that made me feel really old..
Other recent features:
-
Sónar 2010 – Barcelona, Spain
The festival attracts a lot of outsiders, but the Mediterranean, Spanish and more specifically Catalan nature of the people makes the festival what it is. Catalan people are passionate and this passion is infectious. The atmosphere is electric in Barcelona as a city and heightened by music and intoxicants at Sónar.
-
Summer Party Naval Styles at Seven RestoLounge
Oysters, like wine are affected by terroir and these Miyagi’s flavor profiles ranged with one showing a cleaner, almost tropical profile and the other being more salty, marine driven. As I was devouring the seemingly endless plates put in front of us, I sipped on a glass of fine sauvignon blanc.
-
R4NT Radio March 2010
R4NT Radio March 2010 um wow it’s been far too long since the last edition edition, featuring: Hector Hernandez, The Infesticons, Blockhead, Gramatik, Emika, Thunderheist, Parov Stelar, Eddy Meets Yannah, Anti-Pop Consortium, The Slew, Lighterthief, Andreya Triana, Parasyte Woman, Mathon, Venetian Snares, and Funki Porcini.
-
O Restaurant & Lounge revisited
Calgary has a diverse set of urban communities, most of which have the ubiquitous strip mall watering hole. In the South West community of Marda Loop, a reinvention of this paradigm has been established.
-
Predictions 2010.. and beyond!
So 2010 eh? Almost but not quite (no year zero they say) another decade? It seems like just yesterday that the world was waiting for Y2K. R4NT started publishing in March 2001, so we’re not quite 10 years old yet, but in internet years we are already a senior citizen.
-
Invictus
No matter what, the reality of Nelson Mandela is something that deserves screen time. Should this film even remotely intrigue the masses to take interest in this figure, the world would likely benefit greatly from it.